Augusta County: Mary Anna Sibert to David H. Evans,
January 16, 1868
Summary:
Sibert thanks Evans profusely for addressing her as "Dear Mollie" in his last
letter, explains her occasional silences in his presence, and assures him that
she is fully capable of filling the role of "fireside angel," a warm and loving
wife who provides a sheltering home life for her "dayworn husband."
Jan 16th 1868
Mt Solon, Va.
My Dear David
Your welcome, & very dear letter of the 14th came duly to its rightful
owner. How to me its truthful lines gave the glad assurance of your continued
love you could have seen had you been near when I read it over & over
again. It is so sweet to have you call me dear. I repeat the treasured words so
often in my mind since your dear hand traced them to me. I had looked &
waited so long for you to call me Dear Mollie & at last my wishes have
been fulfilled I feel more sure that I am indeed as dear to you as you are to me
& My heartfelt prayer is that you may never regret giving me the sweet
& affectionate little Dear. I love to read the
short words so expressive, written by you & coined from your true,
& noble heart I know how dear, how inexpressibly dear you are to me always & to feel that I am
as much loved by you makes me
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so happy. I wish Oh so anxiously that
you were here this Evening I want to see your dear face more than I can tell I miss the happy & loved Evenings of the
past three weeks when I could have you near me, & now I think you must
come in at twilight & sit with me & as I can't see you I feel so
lonely & that I can't live without seeing you Every day. I know you miss
me when the lamps are lit, "& evening's home
pleasures are nigh." You have a heart made to love, enjoy, & appreciate
fire side, & home pleasures this I have known for some time &
when I am in Staunton I am happiest & so are you when we are with each
other round dear Ella's fireside. Yes I am so happy then & happy when
you are here with me anywhere with you I am
contented & happy so happy that I love to sit silent & think of
my blessing without talking much I love to muse when with you & you
think if I don't talk that I am sad & gloomy but I am not. with me much
talking does not prove the heart to be in its happiest mood. I am often
silent
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when with you & I know that I am very happy. I am
fearful you think I would not make a "cheerful, & happy fireside" You
must not think this of me. I am sure with help from Above of making home happy
for I do love to see others happy & unless those I best cherish are so I
cannot be so myself. Please don't think I would make a gloomy &
cheerless fireside. to me the shake of your dear curly head & the rapid
motion of your foot are very Expressive I saw these when you spoke of Sue Forney & I wondered
then if you thought I would be such a gloomy wife, a dark cloud to hide the
light, the beauty, & happiness of home & not a "fireside angel"
making home a sweet & much loved shelter for the dayworn husband. what
were your thoughts then? did you think I was like Sue? perhaps I have been
unjust to you & this I do not want to be for I love you too dearly to be
unjust forgive me then. one of my greatest wishes is to please you & to
render myself a worthy object for you to love & trust. I received a long letter from dear Ella Tuesday night she
wrote that she never was so lonely in her life. I am sorry I did not stay. wish
I was there tonight I love
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to stay with
her. I would rather be with Ella in one little room than
live in a palace in Bridgewater. I do in truth always enjoy my visits in Ella's
dear upstairs home more than anywhere else in all the
wide Earth. Ma received a letter from Rennie today she says she hopes you & I were as glad to
visit them as they were to have us there. she says she was so lonely after we
left. wants me to go down & stay awhile with her. dear Rennie I love her
too but don't think I can go only when you take me. You & I will go
again before long. she is very happy & I thank God for it, but I would
rather be with Ella than in Bridgewater. dear Rennie has
a warm place in my heart & I hope God will always bless her with
happiness here & in Heaven. You & I will go to see her whenever we can. Do you remember the letter you
brought for pa? it was from Mr. Estell I will let you read it when you come. I
was so glad to hear you are coming Saturday a week if you live. I want to see
you more & more every day of my life. I will have a bright warm fire
& a warm supper for you, a sincere loving heart & glad face to
meet you. Oh! I am so happy when you are with me best & dearest of all
the whole world. Hamie sends his love & says "do you miss him" &
that "he is chewing Mr. Cupp's three [illeg.] tobacco." Pa is getting
ready for his trip to [unclear: Paye] I have not yet consented to go
with him. I may just to please him. There is not much enjoyment in travelling in
the winter I am sure of that Pa just came in where I am writing. he looked round
said "I was very comfortable," & then went up to Ma's room. Ma &
Lola went to see Mrs. Cupp. Ada Hattie & Lula are at Captain C's. Hamie gone to see Maggie I guess. I have
been alone writing to one I love more than all others. I
love you with all my heart & nature I think of you Every hour of my life
& wish I was with you. I never forget how you look. my love, my heart
& thoughts are yours I have not been down to Mr. Ferrors since you left
come soon to one who loves you with undying affection. All send love to you. I
send a kiss & devoted love to you. Write soon I love to read your dear
true letters. wish I could get a letter from you every day God bless &
guide you. Goodnight.
Yours
Mollie Sibert
